Combination electric wall fitting



Dec. 4, 1928.

T. A. BOTH COMBINATION ELECTRIC WALL FITTING Filed Aug. '7, 1925 y substantially on line Q Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

f UNITED STATES A 1,694,158 PATENT OFFICE.

lTONJES A. BOTH, OF STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE CONNECTICUT ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY,l OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ACOR- PORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

COMBINATION ELECTRIC WALL FITTING.

Application filed August 7, 1925. Serial No. '48,912. y

This invention relates to an electrical wall fitting, and has for an object to provide a combination fitting which will include a plu- T ality of different electrical devices located side by side, but. which will be constructed that any device may be placed in any one of the different positions inthe fitting, so that the relative positions of the devices in the fitting may be made anything desired" and any one of the different devices may be placed in the position of any of the other devices.

In its broader aspects the combination titting comprises-'a face plate of suitable material having a plurality of spaced openings of substantially the same size and shape. in which, or associated with which. are a plurality of different kinds of electrical devices, the devices heilig mounted at the rear vof the plate, and the plate and the devices are so constructed that any one of these different dcvic'es may be associated with any ofthe different openings and operated in the same man-` ner in any one of the different positions.

Vith the foregoing and other objectsin view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specitication. similar reference characters being employed throughout `the various figures to indicate corresponding elements. In this drawing,

Fig. 1 is al front elevation of the complete fixture. y

Fig. Q is a transverse section of the plate 2 of Fig. 1showing the body of the switch in elevation.

-Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the plate substantially 0n line 3--3 of Fig. 1 showing' the pilot'or indicating light and its mounting in elevation.v

l `ig. Lis a transverse section through the plate` the` `iewel and lthe mounting therefor substantially in the plane of Fig. 3 and indicated by the line :tl of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the plate substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 1 but showing the receptacle in elevation. Fig-6 is a. front elevation of the jewel and the mounting therefor removed from the plate. y

Fig. 7 is aside elevation thereof.

f Fig. 8 is a transverse section thereof substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig'. 9 is a front'elevation of the receptacleremoved from the plate, and

Fig. 10 is a rear elevation thereof.

In the drawing, I have illustrated the fixture as comprising a face plate associated with three different electrical devices, these three devices being a toggle switch. a pilot or indicating light and a receptacle, but it is to be understood thatA this specific showing is merely illustrative, and that there may be more or less than this number of different devices, and that various other devices may be used in the same manner. i

The specific. showing of the drawing illustrates the combination fixture as mounted in connection with an outlet 'or wall box 10, this box, of course, being of sufticient size to accommodate the number of devices in the fixture. Thecombination fixture shown comprises a face plate 11 of insulating material, such as balielite. which is of sutiicicnt size to cover the opening of the wall box and carry the devices required. This plate is provided with a plurality of openings 12 of substantially the same size and shape spaced laterally from each other, and these openings in the plate construction shown are substantially rectangular with their sides inclined or beveled as shown at 13. Mounted in or associated with one of the openings, in the present case the left hand opening, is a switch indicated as a whole by the numeral 1t. This switch' is mounted at the rear of the plate and is provided with an operating lever 15 pro" jecting through the opening 12 in the plate. so that it is accessible for operation atthe front of the plate. The switch is mounted on a yoke 16 secured to the wall box by the screws 1T, and to which yoke the face plate 11 is secured by screws 1S. These screws are countersunk into the face plate, and are tapped as shown at 1E) in Fig. 3. to receive the threaded stud Q0 of an insulating cap or button 21. Thus after the screws 18 are inserted to secure the face plate to the yoke the caps or buttons 21 are threaded into the screws and the heads of these caps or buttons which are made of insulating material cover up the heads of Athe screws, making this device an entirely dead front structure with no niet-al parts exposed to be touched by the user. I have not shown in detail the construction of this switch as it forms no part of my presentinvention.

Mounted in another of the openings 12 in the face plate, in the present instance in the right hand opening, is a receptacle 22 comprising an insulating body enclosing the. usual contacts to be engaged by the contact blades of electrical attachment plugs or caps,these contacts being connected to the lead wires from the source'of current in the house wiring by the usual binding screws 23. This insulating bodyv carrying the contacts has a substantially rectangular portion seated in an opening 2l in a yoke 25, which yoke is provided with slots 26 for securing screws 17 to mount the receptacle in the wall box. A pair of oblong slots 2 are provided in the front of this body member leading to the contacts, these slots being arranged to receive the contact blades of the usual attachment cap. When the face plate is mounted in position it is secured to the yoke 25 by screws 18, Fig. 5, which are the same as the screws for securing the face plate to the yoke, 1G ofthe switch. and when so placed in position the slots 2T are exposed through theopening 12 in the. fase plate as shownin Fig. 1. lf the l'ace plate is made of insulating material the blade openings 2T in the receptacle may be brought up close to the ends of the rectangular openings 12 in the face plate. This could not be done if the face plate were of metal as the usual brass plate, as in that case the cap blades when being inserted in the receptacle or removed therefrom would be apt to engage the metal plate and cause a short circuit or a ground from the contacts in the receptacle. lVith this insulating face plate, therefore, the saine sized opening in the face plate may be used for the receptacle as is used for the switch. rIhe bevel on the sides of the rectangular openings in theplate assists in directing the blades to the openings 27 in the receptacle making it easvfor the user to find these openings. If the plate is made of metal, as brass, a larger opening should be provided in the face plate so that the blades ofthe cap will not come in contact with the metal face plate or be too close thereto. In other words with the metal plate it is advisable to provide a special opening for the receptacle, while in the insulating plate the same size and shape of opening is used for all of the devices, and therefore, the receptacle or any of the other devices may be mounted in any opening.

ln the intermediate or central opening 12, or associated therewith, is a jewel 28 of colored glass or other suitable material, with a pilot or indicating light 29 mounted behind the saine so as to shine through the jewel and indicate 'whether the pilot or indicating light is burning or not. This pilot or indicating light may be connected with the receptacle to indicate whether the circuit through this receptacle is closed. or it may be connected in the circuit controlled by the switch, as where the switch is used to control a light in another room. as for instance a cellar li ht, or if the switch is used to control t e circuit through the receptacle the pilot may be connected in this circuit, or it may be used in any other circuit as desired as will be obvious to any one familiar with the wiring of these devices. The pilot light is mounted on a volte 3() mounted in the wall box by similar screws 17, and the face, plate is also secured to this yoke b v screws 18 as shown in Figs. il and et. rl"he jewel 2S has a rectangular portion 31 projecting into the opening in the face plate and substantially of the same size as this opening to give a neat and attractive appearance. It is mounted in a plate 32. This plate has an opening therethrough covered by the jewel which is provided on its opposite sides with longitudinally extending beveled flanges At the opposite end of the opening in the plate 32 are lugs 3l on the back of the plate against which the jewel reste, and on the front side of the plate are flanges 35. at the sides of the opening which engage over the beveled ilanges 33 of the jewel and hold it in position. The plate is provided with openings 3G through which the screws 18 pass, as shown in Fig. l. so that this plate is clamped between the back of the face plate and the front of the yoke 80.

It will be apparent that if preferred this jewel may be mounted in any one of the other openings 12 in the face plate, and the .saine is true of either of the other devices. Therefore, either the switch, the pilot light and the jewel, or the receptacle may be associated with any one ofthe openings in the face plate, and will function in the same manner in any position, and each of the devices are secured to the face plate by the same securing means. that is, the insulated screws 18. Although the specific construction of receptacle shown is not adapted for use with the usual brass face plate, it will be obvious` that the Switch and pilot light is adapted for use with a brass face plate.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invent-ion, what I claim is:

1. A finishing or cover plate of a size for a standard multiple gang wall out-let box provided with a plurality of spaced openings each of a size to take a standard tumbler switch lever and each opening have associated with it a pair of openings for standard tixture securing screws, a plurality of interchangeable electrical devices at the back of the plate having parts fitting thel said openings and at least one of which is other than a switch, and supporting elements for said devices having screw threaded openings to receive securing screws in the screw openings in the plate.

2. In combinational finishing or cover plate of molded insulating material of a size for a. standard multiple gang walloutlet box provided with a plurality of openings of a size and shape' to take a. standard tumbler switch lever and spaced from each other so .y portion of the plate adapted to cover the respective gangs of'said box, and a plurality ofelectrica-l devices associa-ted with the re-` spective openings, and each device being adapted for operative association with any one of said openings.

3. A .finishing or cover plate of a size for L a standard multiple gang wall outlet box provided with a plurality of spaced openings each of a size to take a standard tumbler switch lever, there being one of said openings in each portion otthe plate adapted yto cover the respective gangs of said box, aplu'rality of interchangeable electrical devices at the back of the plate having parts fitting the said openings and at least one of them being other than a switch, supportingelements .for said devices, andy means for securing the plate to said elements.

4. In combination, a finishing or cover plate of a' size tocover the wall opening requiredA for a standard multiple gang Wall outlet box provided with a plurality of spaced openings each of a size to take a standard tumbler switch lever, there being one of said open` ings in eachgportion of the .plate 'adapted to cover one gang of said box, andfa plurality of interchangeable electrical devices at the back of the plate each adapted for mounting in connection with any one of said openings, one of these devices comprising a receptacle having a body of insulating material provided with. spacedslots for entrance of the knife blades of a standard attachment plug cap, and means for mounting the body behind oneof the openings and with the slots in alignment with said opening.

5. In combination, a finishingr or cover plate of a size to covcrthe Wall opening required for a standard multiple gang wall outlet box provided with a plurality of spaced openings each of a size to take a standard tumbler switch lever and each opening having associated with it a lpair-` of openings for standard fixture securing screws, and a plurality of interchangeable electrical devices at the back of the plate each adaptedv for mounting in connection with any ot' said openings, one of these devices including a jewel Vshaped to fit an'opening and means for mounting the jewel in position.

6. As an article of manufacture, a support having screw openings spaced to receive standard fixture securing'screws to secure the supportto the rearwall of a Wall outlet box face plate, and a jewel mounted on said supf port shaped to fit a standard toggle switch opening 1n said face plate.

7 As an article ot manufacture, a receptacle comprising an insulating body member having spacedslots for entrance of the contact. blades of a standard attachment plug cap, receptacle contacts mounted in the body associated with said openings and provided' with means for connecting electric wires, the front portion of the body being of a size and shape that when mounted in back of the standard toggle switch opening in a face plate the slots are in alignment with said opening, and meansfor supporting the body member at the back of the 'face plate.

8. As an article of manufacture, a receptacle comprising an insulating body member having spaced slots for entrance of the contact blades of the standard attachment plug cap, receptacle contacts mounted in the body associated with said openings and provided with means for connecting electric wires, the front portion of the body being of a size and shape that' when mounted in back of the standard toggle switch opening in a face plate the slots are Iin :alignment with said opening, and a supporting element for said body having openings spaced for standard fixture securing screws.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature,-

TONJES A. BOTH. 

